Engine or pump



Sept. 15, 1936. w. Q WORTH 2,054,110

ENGINE OR PUMP Filed Aug. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 h Qn Sept. 15, 1 936. I w WORTH 2,054,110

ENGINE OR PUMP Filed Aug. 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet? Sept. 15, 1936. w. o. WORTH 2,054,110

' I ENGINE OR PUMP Filed Aug. 19, 1930 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 15, 1936. w. o. WORTH ENGINE OR PUMP Filed Aug. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 15, 1936. v w; o. WORTH ENGINE OR PUMP Filed Aug. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 lTE sras ENGINE OR PUMP 13 (llaims.

This invention relates in general to fluid pressure operated engines and more particularly to new and useful improvements in expansive fluid operated engines of the type generally known as rotary.

While the invention herein disclosed relates more particularly to expansive fluid operated engines of the rotary type, wherein steam or other expansive fluid under pressure is employed for operating the engine, it will be understood that the structure and the underlying principles thereof may be incorporated generally in pumps, measuring or otherwise, or in internal combustion engines, liquid meters, and the like, and that therefore, the invention finds a wide field of utility.

The principal objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the provision of an improved type of rotary fluid pressure operated engine wherein reciprocating parts, crank shafts, connecting rods, cam shafts, packing, grease cups, in the ordinary sense are eliminated and in which the rotor includes only two major portions ro tating together; the provision of an improved fluid motor or pump in which a substantially constant torque is exerted in operation; the provision of an improved rotary fluid pressure operated engine wherein the direction of rotation of the device may be controlled by the movement of a single lever, and in which the engine may be reversed at any speed; the provision of a rotary fiuid pressure operated engine wherein the fluid under pressure is admitted and exhausted axially thereof, thus resulting in a considerable reduction of the necessary parts and simplifying the construction, and the provision of an improved rotary engine whose structure may be employed for meters, pumps, and the like with like advantages.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid' pressure operated engine of the rotary type wherein a continuous torque is exerted on the moving part or parts thereof so that at no time in the cycle of operation of the engine is there a dead center, that is to say, as long as steam or other fluid under pressure is admitted Y to the engine one or more cylinders is working steam so that the torque exerted is substantially constant and a motion is produced having the desirable characteristics of even running, and, wherein the inertia of the pistons is overcome thus eliminating pounding on bearings. It is unnecessary to allow for lap or lead in the valves. In fact,'the present invention, as adopted for steam or air engines, requires no valves in the ordinary sense, the rotation of the engine serving itself to control the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to and from the cylinders, thereby eliminating the necessity for complicating valve gear and packing and the like which is commonly employed in fluid pressure operated engines. It is thus possible to produce an engine of such lightness that it does not weigh more than live (5) ounces per horse power.

The foregoing and such other objects and advantages as may appear or be pointed out as this description proceeds are found in the structural employment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the machine of this invention.

Figure v2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the right-hand side of said figure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of valving member.

Figure 7 is an elevational view, parts being shown in section, of an alternative form of this invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8& of Figure 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The machine of this invention is designed to produce, in operation, a continuous torque motion and to produce this motion without intermissions commonly. necessary even in steam and air engines of the so-called rotary type.

The engine illustrated in the drawings is a simple engine, that is to say, is an ordinary type known as'a simple engine wherein a single expansion of the steam is relied on to develop the power.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive, I provide a suitable pedestal or other support Ill having a base H which may be secured by the bolts E2 to any suitable support.

The pedestal it is constructed as best shown in Figure 4:. Here the pedestal is shown as provided with a bifurcated upper end providing the two embracing portions i3 and I4 through which a tying bolt 15 is adapted to pass, the embracing portions l3 and it having each an interior cylindrical surface as indicated at is to receive a stationary supporting part I! of the engine, said part I'E being solid adjacent to the embracing portions 13 and it, and provided with a tubular extending portion E8 on which one of the rotating parts of the engine itself is mounted as will hereinafter appear.

The solid portion 11 is provided with a longitudinal opening. l9. being displaced eccentrically to the axis of the tubular portion I8, and this opening l 9 serves to receive the inner tubular member 20 which may be termed a relatively stationary,

I the valving tube lying across the end of the compartment 20b. Adjacent to the partition 23 there is provided an exhaust port 2% communicating with a complemental duct 25 in the solid portion ll, said duct communicating with the outlet or exhaust steam pipe 26, seen inFigures 1, 4 and 5.

The compartment 20 conducts live steam to the rotating parts of the engine and to the cylinders thereof and is connected to the steam supply pipes 27, controlled by a conventional form of valve 28.

The valving tube 20serves the functions of admitting and exhausting steam to and from the engine proper and also serves the function of supporting the cylinder structure of the engine as will presently appear, said valving tube 20 being partially rotatable in the bore I9 irrespective of the rotation of the rotor by the provision of a lever 29 fixedly secured in retaining ring 30, the latter being threaded externally onto the end of the tube 20 projecting beyond the solid bearing portion l1 and fixed in position on said projecting portion by a set screw 3|. The tubular member l8 and its solid portion I! are retained in position in the pedestal II! by the provision of a shoulder 32 formed on the tubular portion l8, and by applying a retaining nut 33 to the projecting outer end of the solid portion IT.

The valving tube 20 adjacent to the inner end, that is, the end within the engine, is provided with notches forming fluid parts 35 and 36 so positioned as to be placed in communication with the cylinders of the engine in timed relation to admit and exhaust fluid under pressure to and from said cylinders, the cylinder structure thus functioning in rotation to control flow of fluid thereto and therefrom.

The inner end of the valving tube 20 is enlarged in diameter as indicated at 31 so as to form a rigid support'and a bearing for the cylinder structure, generally designated 38. The enlarged portion 31 also forms shoulders against which the races of the roller or ball bearings 39 and 40 may abut. Any suitable means may be employed for fixedly mounting the ball races in proper position between the flanges 4| and 42 formed on the cylinder structure for this purpose.

The cylinder structure may comprise a single casting provided with a plurality of radial bores forming the cylinders 43, 4.4, 45, 46, 41 and 48 in each of which are mounted for movement the pistons 49, 50, 52, 53 and 54.

The cylinder structure is formed with an axial bore 50a and communication for the flow of fluid is established between said bore and each of the cylinders by the provision of radial ports 55, 56, 51, 58, 59 and G0.

The rotatable cylinder structure 38 is so mounted on the enlarged portion 31 of the tube 20 that upon rotation of said cylinder structure on said tube, communication is established between the live steam compartment 20a and one or more .of the cylinders and between the exhaust steam compartment 20b and certain other of the cylinders in succession and in proper timed relation with the pistons in their respective cylinders.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 3 that the ports 35 and 36 are so formed that includes the cylinder structure 38 and the pistons 89, 5d, 5!, 52, 53, 5G and the piston supporting structure, generally designated 38a, which is in the form of a casing having an enlarged cylindrical portion 39a which embraces and encompasses the cylinder structure. This cylindrical portion is reducedin diameter to form a bearing containing portion 40a which is cylindrical and is supported by anti-friction bearings 62 and 63 upon the external surface of the tube 58. The casing 38a is retained against end-wise movement, that is end-thrust in operation by the provision of a retainer plate 64$ secured by cap screws 65 to the bearing portion 49a, this retainer plate 64 lying between the anti-friction bearing 63 and the adjacent partof the pedestal it.

The outer end of the casing 38a, that is, the cylindrical portion 39a, is closed by a plate 66, on which may be mounted a sheave 61 adapted to be connected by a belt or by other means to an element to be driven.

It will thus be seen from an inspection of Figures 1, 2, 3, that the rotor of the engine comprises two major rotating elements, that is, the cylinder structure 38 and the piston carrying structure 38a, but that these elements, while rotating at the same speed in the same direction are mounted on non-concentric axes. The purpose of this construction will appear presently.

The pistons are connected to the cylindrical 1 portion 39a by the provision of connecting rods,

all of which are identical in construction andv which will, therefore, require the description of but one. These connecting rods'are indicated at 58, 68 and are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the cylindrical portion 38aat equi-distantly spaced points 68b.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the piston is formed with a socket portion 68 in which the'ball member 10 of the connecting rod 68 is adapted to seat, a retaining plug 1| being inserted into the socket member 69 and retaining the connecting rod therein for angular displacement. The outer end of the connecting rod is similarly formed with a bearing member 12 set in a socket member 13 and retained by a plug member 14', said socket members being removable outwardly. to permit convenient removal connected for pivotal and relative angular displacement by the provision of a link 19 connected at the points. 19a and 80a to the complemental ends of the rocker arms I5 and 15, respectively.

Intermediately of the link of each rocker arm said rocker arm is connected to diametrically opposite points of the cylinder structure indicated at 15a. and 160. by the provision of links Ila and 11b. These links "a and llb are pivotally connected at 170 and 11d to rocker arms 15 and 16, respectively, so that any tendency for relative rotation of the cylinder structure during rotation iscontrolled within limits, these limits being the necessary displacement of these elements due to the displacement of the pistons in their respec-' tive cylinders in response to the thrust produced by expansion of fluid under pressure therein. This displacement will usually be substantially the same as the length of the link 19 so that in one cycle of the movement of the engine, at one point in said cycle, the pivotal point 80a between the link 19 and the rocker arm 16 will reach its limit of movement at a point co-axial with the axis of the cylinder structure and at the other limit of movement of the elements of the engine the pivotal point 19a will assume a position coaxial with the axis of the cylinder structure.

In the operation of the engine, steam under pressure is admitted by the port 35 to certain of the cylinders for operation of the engine in one direction and simultaneously therewith, steam is exhausted from the remaining cylinders. An inspection of Figure 3 will best disclose the operation insofar as the control of fluid is concerned. Assuming that fluid under pressure is admitted to the compartment 2011 such fluid flows to the three cylinders 43, 48 and 41 tending to force the pistons outwardly. While the piston 49 is in a position of substantial dead center,

this is overcome for the reason that one ofthe other pistons, say '55, is in position to receivesteam under pressure tending to respond to such pressure to move outwardly. This force exerted on the piston M is in turn transmitted through the connecting rod 68 to the piston carrying casing 539a the thrust thus tending to circumferentially displace this casing with respect to the cylinder structure. The result is a setting up of retation of the member 39a, and through the tim- .ing gear connections, including the rocker arms 15 and it, this motion is transmitted to the cylinder structure, through links it, thus causing itto rotate with the piston structure.

As the two major elements of the engine, that is, the cylinder structure 38 and the piston carrying structure 39a commence to rotate, the complemental points, say 68b, complemental to the piston 66 and the cylinder E8 will increase in radial spacing from the cylinder structure until this point on the piston carrying structure 39a has reached its maximum radial. displacement due to the relative ofl center positions of the cylinder and piston structures whereupon the piston then located at this point has finished its socalled working stroke and will assume a position similar to that of the piston 52 inthe cylinder 66 shown in Figure 3.

As the cylinder 5% passes the port 35 the flow of steam to the cylinder 448 is cut oil, but the next succeeding cylinder and piston will receive steam so that there is at all times one or more of the cylinders working live steam. When the pistonreaches the outer position in its respective cylinder as shown at the bottom of Figure 3,

the port indicated at 58 comes into communication. with the exhaust port 36 of the valving device 30 whereupon the steam having completed its work in that cylinder is exhausted from the engine through the compartmentfllb'.

It will be understood that by changing the dimensions of the port 35 the engine may be'operated as a limited cut-ofi steam engine, relying on the expansive properties, of the steam to finish the working stroke. This enables me to attain a high degree of economy in operation by employing relatively high steam pressures and early cut-off.-

As the approach and separation of the cylinder structure and piston carrying structure during rotation is uninterrupted due to the elimination of reciprocating parts, it is unnecessary to give lead to the engine in the ordinary sense to overcome piston inertia.

Referring now to the alternative form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9 both inclusive,

I have illustrated a structure wherein the rotor,

generally designated 85, is mounted for rotation in a slot 86 formed in a supporting plate 81. Due to the compactness of the engine of this invention, I have found that it has usefulness in many power installations in which fluid pressure engines have heretofore not been employed owing to the lack of space.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9 operates substantially the same as the form illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 but in the instant case it has been mounted in a slotted plate, as referred to above, so that the engine may be employed for operating gyroscopes commonly employed in the gyroscope compass for the reason that the driving shaft of the engine indicated at 88, while carrying a pulley 89, may be direct connected to the shaft of the gyroscope.

Great'care must be taken in starting a gyroscope compass, that is, the master compass, when an electric motor is employed, and it then requires specially constructed electric motors to maintain the gyroscope at speed. Heretofore a steam engine of the reciprocating type, and even those known as the type of turbines, could not be practically employed for this purpose. The form of the invention shown in Figures '7 to 9 is adapted to occupy a space relatively small so that its installation in the standard gyroscope compass structure may be readily accomplished.

Referring now more particularly to the form shown in Figures 7 to 9, the rotor 85 includes the casing structure 35a which may be termed the piston carrying structure and includes the radial wall 86 bolted at 86a to the flange 86b formed on the driving shaft 88. This driving shaft 88 is conveniently mounted-in anti-friction bearings 88a, carried by the plate 81 and retained in position in any convenient manner such, for exam ple, by the provision of a ball retainer shown in dotted lines'at 88b and retained on the plate 81 by the provision of bolts BBC.

The open side of the casing 85a is closed by a cover plate 90, whose inner peripheral edge 9! overlaps a dust excluding plate 92 secured in the slot 86 along the edge thereof opposite to the shaft 88.

The cylinder structure of the rotor is shown at 900. and may take a' form similar to that of the cylinder structure 38, that is, may be formed in a single casting provided with a plurality of cylpins 96 inserted in suitably formed openings in the peripheral wall of the casing 850..

The cylinder structure is mounted for rotation on an axis eccentric to that of the shaft 88 by the provision of a' valving tube 91, which latter may be mounted on the opposite side of the plate 8'! from that of the shaft 88 by the provision of a suitable bearing recess 91a, said valving tube being extended into the slot 86 to form a bearing portion 98 from which the cylinder structure is supported for rotation.

Suitable anti-friction bearings 98a are provided similarly to the bearings 3Q and-til, the ball or roller races 98?) and 980 being retained in position on the bearing portion 93 by a shoulder 99 and by a closing plug member mo.

The valving tube 98 is provided with two chambers In! and lilz'formed by the provision of a tained in part in a retaining block H2, as best shown in Figure 7. The purpose of the annular recesses H and 'l H is to permit of limited rotation of the valving tube 91 for reversing the rotation of the rotor similarly to the valving tube of the engine shown in Figure 1. A live steam inlet may be provided and is shown at H3 and an exhaust steam outlet is provided and shown at 1M.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, it will be observed that here thebulk of the weight of the engine is supported laterally of a pedestal l0 and for some purposes this form of the invention may be found not satisfactory due to the lateral strain exerted on the bearings. This may be remedied by adding a bearing beyond the pulley 61, Figure 1, but in some installations this increases the space occupied by the engine beyond that which is desired. Hence in the form of the invention in Figures '7 to 9, two distinct bearings are provided for the rotor so that the space actually occupied by the engine is not increased and yet the possibility of undue vibration or; lateralstress, which may occur in Figure 1, is eliminated. I desire to make it clear that while the shaft 88 is shown provided with a pulley and the plate 66 is shown provided with a pulley, the external surface of the casings 39a and 85a may serve to receive a belt from which power from the engine may be taken off.

Referring more in detail to Figure '7, it will be observed that the block H2 is so positioned that the axial line of bearing thereof is displaced eccentrically with respect to the shaft 88 and this block I I2 may be retained in position by the provision of bolts i I20, or the like. Suitable control valves for supplying steam under pressure to the engine similar to the valve 28 may be provided.

It will be understood that the rocker arm structure shown in Figure 1 is applied to the form of the invention shown in Figures '7 to 9, the same being 'indicated generally at H6 in Figures '7 and 8. 1

From the foregoing descriptions it will be understood that this engine possesses the desirable features of the reciprocating engine in many respects and possesses the desirable features .of the so-called steam turbine but does not possess the disadvantages of the types of the engines mentioned, for the reason that it is unnecessary in the present engine to provide for lead of steam to overcome the inertia of the pistons, which is necessary in every reciprocating steam engine known to me, and it is furthermore not necessary to employ with this engine the auxiliaries which are necessary in operating turbines such as maintaining vacuum, etc. Yet this engine possesses. the required starting torque and maintains at all times in its cycles of operation a constant torque due to the fact that one or more of the cylinders are working steam at all times and the power stress is circumferentially applied. It will be understood that the number of cylinders employed may be increased if desired and that other modification of the mounting of the rotor and associated partsmay be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator, and a rotor comprising two eccentrically mounted members, one encompassed by the other, radial pistons and cylinders carried by said members, respectively, and means including radially disposed rocker arms having their inner ends connected together and their outer ends connected to the outer of said members, the intermediate portions of said rocker arms having links connecting them to the inner of said members, whereby to limit the relative circumferential displacement of said members in operation.

2, In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator, a rotor comprising two relatively eccentrically mounted members, the inner or cylinder member having an axial bearing portion, a tubular member extending from the stator and forming a.

said outer or piston carrying member being rotatable on said lateral extension, and pistons in said cylinder structure connected to said outer member.

3. In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator,

a rotor comprising two relatively eccentrically mounted members, the inner of which is provided with a plurality of cylinders, and a plurality of pistons in said cylinders connected to the outer of said members'an outer tubular extension on said stator, said rotor having a laterally extending portion mounted for rotation on said lateral tubular extension, a valving tube within said lateral tubular extension, extending beyond the same into said cylinder structure to form the sole bearing-support therefor, said valving tube being eccentrically mounted with respect to said lateral extension, means for limiting the circumferential displacement of said cylinder and piston structures, said valving tube being pro.- vided with a plurality of ducts for fluid under pressure communicating with the cylinders of said cylinder structure, and means for rotating structure having a radial cylinder, a revoluble piston structure encompassing said cylinder structure, a piston connected to said piston structure and operating in said cylinder and said. structures being mounted on eccentrically displaced axes, means for maintaining said structures in operative position for joint rotation including rocker arms angularly displaceable on one of said structures and pivotally connected at their inner ends to each other and at their outer ends pivoted to the outer of said structures.

5. In a rotary engine, a rotor including a cylinder structure having a plurality of rotatable radial cylinders, and a rotatable piston-carrying element, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected to said piston-carrying element, a bearing member for said cylinder structure including a relatively stationary valving tube axially disposed with respect to said cylinder structure, and a bearing for said piston-carrying element eccentrically disposed with respect to and encompassing said valving tube, said tube forming the sole support for said cylinder structure.

6. In a rotary engine, a rotor including a cylinder structure having a plurality of rotatable radial cylinders, and a rotatable piston carrying element, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected to said piston carrying element, a bearing member for said cylinder structure including a relatively stationary valving tube axially disposed with respect to said cylinder structure, and a bearing for said piston carrying element eccentrically displaced with respect to said valving tube and means for maintaining said cylinder structure and piston carrying element in operative circumferential relationship for joint rotation, said means comprising rocker arms pivoted on said piston structure and extending toward the mean center of the engine, and having their adjacent ends operatively connected, and links for connecting the medial portions of said rocker arms to said cylinder structure.

7. In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator, a rotor comprising two relatively eccentrically mounted members, the inner or cylinder member having an axial bearing member, a tubular member extending from the stator, a valving tube carried by the stator and extending laterally thereof to form a bearing portion for engagement with said bearing member, the outer or piston carrying structure embracing said cylinder structure relatively eccentric thereto and provided with a laterally disposed concentric bearing portion rotatively mounted upon said tubular portion thereby forming the sole support therefor, said valving tube forming the sole bearing means for said cylinder structure.

8. In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator, a rotor comprising two relatively eccentrically mounted members, the inner or cylinder member having an axial bearing member, a tubular member extending from the stator, a valving tube carried by the stator and extending laterally thereof, through and beyond the same to form a bearing portion for engagement with said bearing member, the outer or piston carrying structure embracing. said cylinder structure relatively eccentric thereto and provided with a laterally disposed concentric bearing portion relatively mounted upon said tubular portion thereby forming the sole support therefor, said valving tube' forming the sole bearing means for said cylinder structure.

9. In a fluid pressure operated engine, a stator, a rotor comprising two relatively eccentrically mounted members, the inner member being provided with a plurality of cylinders to form a cylinder structure, and the outer member being provided with a plurality of complemental pistons operating in said cylinders and forming with said outer member a piston structure, a tubular extension on said stator entering said cylinder structure axially to form the sole bearing support therefor upon which the same is revoluble, a second tubular extension on said stator eccentrically arranged with respect to said first tubular extension and lying about the same and axially arranged with respect to a portion of said piston structure to form the sole bearing support therefor, means for limiting the circumferential relative displacement of said cylinder and piston structures, said first named tubular extension forming a valving tube and being provided with a plurality of ducts for fluid under pressure communicating with the'cylinders of saidcylinder structure, and means for rotating said valving tube with respect to said stator.

10. In a fluid pressure-operated engine, a stator, and a rotor comprising two eccentrically mounted members, one encompassed by the other, radial pistons and cylinders carried by said members, respectively, and means limiting the relaally mounted at one end on the outer of said members and operatively connected at the other ends by a link, and links connecting each of said rocker arms to the inner of said members.

11. In a fluid pressure-operated engine, a stator, and a rotor comprising two eccentrically mounted members, one encompassed by the other, radial pistons and cylinders carried by said members, respectively, and means limiting the relative circumferential displacement of said members in operation, comprising rocker arms pivotally mounted at one end on the outer of said members and operatively connected at the other ends by a link, and links connecting the intermediate portions of said rocker arms to the inner of said members.

12. In a fluid pressure-operated engine, a stator, and a rotor comprising two eccentrically mounted members, one encompassed by the other, radial pistons and cylinders carried by said members, respectively, and means for maintaining said members in operative position for joint ro-- tation, comprising rocker arms connected to the outer of said members, and connected to each other by a link independent of either of said members and links connecting each of said rocker arms to the inner of said members.

13.- In a fluid pressure-operated engine, a stator. and a rotor comprising two eccentrically mounted members, one encompassed by the other,

' radial pistons and cylinders carried by said memrespect to each other.

wnum o. won-m. 

